Alex Eala is set to make her long-awaited Australian Open main-draw debut with a first-round assignment against WTA No. 100 Alycia Parks.
The Filipina teen, currently ranked No. 49 in the WTA rankings, will face Parks in what will be the pair’s first-ever meeting on the WTA Pro Tour.
The 25-year-old Parks reached a career-high ranking of World No. 40 in August 2023 and owns a WTA singles title after capturing the 2023 Lyon Open, where she defeated home favorite Caroline Garcia in the final. She has also found success in doubles, winning two WTA titles, including the prestigious 2023 Cincinnati Open, alongside Coco Gauff.
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Known for her power, Parks shares the record for the fastest serve in US Open history with Venus Williams, both clocking a blistering 129 mph at different editions of the tournament. Parks achieved the feat during her 2021 Grand Slam debut, matching Williams’ long-standing 2007 record and placing her among the fastest servers ever on the WTA Tour.
An American born in Atlanta, Georgia, Parks has been coached by her father, Michael Parks, since childhood. She began playing tennis at the age of seven and moved with her older sister to Florida at the age of 10 to access higher-level training.
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After graduating from high school in 2019, Parks declined multiple college scholarship offers to pursue a professional tennis career full-time.
Parks turned professional in 2019 and made her WTA main-draw debut at the Charleston Open in 2021.
If Eala wins the first round, she will face the winner between WTA No. 19 Karolina Muchova and WTA No. 37 Jaqueline Cristian.
For Eala, the match against Parks marks another milestone in her rapidly progressing career. Against Parks’ power and experience, the encounter promises an intriguing clash for the Filipina star as she begins her Australian Open journey.